A central tenet of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ mission is to put experience and research to work in order to serve the public good and make a positive impact around the globe. This “knowledge with public purpose” encourages lifelong learning by reaching out locally, nationally, and internationally with programs that broadly benefit the public, rural and urban communities, and industry. As one of the land grant colleges within Cornell, CALS’ outreach and extension efforts build community capacity, protect the environment, influence the decision-making processes of myriad stakeholders (e.g., families, businesses, governments), and improve lives by enhancing the economic well-being of people and communities. CALS is home to several world-class outreach and extension programs:
- The Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station’s (CUAES) world-renowned research farms and greenhouses bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial application to address pressing issues that directly affect the health and welfare of the state and beyond.
- The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) contributes to strategic decisions made by growers and consumers by advancing the newest technologies in search of profitable, environmentally sound ways to grow safer, more healthful fruits and vegetables.
- The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) puts research into practice in every county in New York by providing high value educational programs and resources that help solve real-life problems and improve New York families, farms, businesses, and communities.
- The CALS Research and Impact Portal is a searchable collection of project summaries that documents the impacts of CALS research and outreach throughout New York, the United States, and the world.
Additional outreach and extension efforts are coordinated by the college’s schools and departments, as well as units and programs affiliated with CALS.